Patterning of the chick forebrain anlage by the prechordal plate

We analysed the role of the prechordal plate in forebrain development of chick embryos in vivo. After transplantation to uncommitted ectoderm a prechordal plate induces an ectopic, dorsoventrally patterned, forebrain-like vesicle. Grafting laterally under the anterior neural plate causes ventralization of the lateral side of the forebrain, as indicated by a second expression domain of the homeobox gene NKX2.1. Such a lateral ventralization cannot be induced by the secreted factor Sonic Hedgehog alone, as this is only able to distort the ventral forebrain medially. Removal of the prechordal plate does not reduce the rostrocaudal extent of the anterior neural tube, but leads to significant narrowing and cyclopia. Excision of the head process results in the caudal expansion of the NKX2.1 expression in the ventral part of the anterior neural tube, while PAX6 expression in the dorsal part remains unchanged. We suggest that there are three essential steps in early forebrain patterning, which culminate in the ventralization of the forebrain. First, anterior neuralization occurs at the primitive streak stage, when BMP-4-antagonizing factors emanate from the node and spread in a planar fashion to induce anterior neural ectoderm. Second, the anterior translocation of organizer-derived cells shifts the source of neuralizing factors anteriorly, where the relative concentration of BMP-4-antagonists is thus elevated, and the medial part of the prospective forebrain becomes competent to respond to ventralizing factors. Third, the forebrain anlage is ventralized by signals including Sonic Hedgehog, thereby creating a new identity, the prospective hypothalamus, which splits the eye anlage into two lateral domains.     

Kinetic analysis of the coding properties of O6-methylguanine in DNA: the crucial role of the conformation of the phosphodiester bond

Production by N-nitroso compounds of O6-alkylguanine (O6-alkylG) in DNA directs the misincorporation of thymine during DNA replication, leading to G:C to A:T transition mutations, despite the fact that DNA containing O6-alkylG:T base pairs is less stable than that containing O6-alkylG:C pairs. We have examined the kinetics of incorporation by Klenow fragment (KF) of Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I of thymine (T) and of cytosine (C) opposite O6-MeG in the template DNA strand. Both T and C were incorporated opposite O6-MeG much slower than nucleotides forming regular A:T or G:C base pairs. Using various concentrations of dTTP, dCTP, or their phosphorothioate (Sp)-dNTP alpha S analogues, or a mixture of dTTP and dCTP, the progress of incorporation of a single nucleotide in a single catalytic cycle of a preformed KF-DNA complex was measured (pre-steady-state kinetics). The results were consistent with the kinetic scheme (Kuchta, R. D., Benkovic, P., & Benkovic, S. J. (1988) Biochemistry 27, 6716-6725): (1) binding of dNTP to polymerase-DNA; (2) conformational change in polymerase; (3) formation of phosphodiester between the dNTP and the 3'-OH of the primer; (4) conformational change of polymerase; (5) release of pyrophosphate. The results were analyzed mathematically to identify the steps at which the rate constants differ significantly between the incorporation of T and C. The only significant difference was the 5-fold difference in the rates of formation of the phosphodiester bond (for dTTP, kforward = 3.9 s-1 and kback = 1.9 s-1; for dCTP, kforward = 0.7 s-1 and kback = 0.9 s-1). These pre-steady-state progress curves were biphasic with a rapid initial burst followed by an apparently steady-state rise. Deconvolution of these curves gave direct evidence for the importance of the conformational change after polymerization by showing that the curves represented the sum of the rapid accumulation of the product of step 3 followed by the slow conversion of that to the product of step 5 (because of the rapidity of the release of pyrophosphate there was no significant accumulation of the product of step 4). The equilibrium constants for each step suggest that the greatest change in the Gibbs free energy occurs at the conformational change after polymerization and that while the formation of the phosphodiester bond to T is slightly exothermic, that to C is slightly endothermic.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Triggering of cellulase biosynthesis by cellulose in Trichoderma reesei. Involvement of a constitutive, sophorose-inducible, glucose-inhibited beta-diglucoside permease

We prepared [U-14C]cellobiose by cultivating Acetobacter pasteurianus in the presence of [U-14C]glucose and hydrolyzing the [U-14C]cellulose formed with beta-glucosidase-free cellulase from Trichoderma reesei. This 14C-labeled cellobiose was used to investigate the presence of an uptake system for cellobiose in T. reesei. Evidence was obtained for the presence of a high affinity (Km for cellobiose 0.3 microM) but low activity (2.5 milliunits/mg fungal dry weight) cellobiose permease. The permease is formed constitutively, but higher levels are formed after addition of sophorose (glucosyl-beta-1,2-diglucoside), a reputed cellulase inducer. The permease appears to be specific for beta-diglucosides, as the uptake of [U-14C]cellobiose is inhibited by sophorose, gentiobiose (glucosyl-beta-1,3-glucoside), and cellobiose. Under these conditions, cellooligodextrines (n, 4-7; final concentration, 1 mM) are not inhibitors. Glucose, but no other monosaccharides, inhibits the permease. The hypersecretory mutant T. reesei RUT C-30 exhibits elevated permease activities, whereas in T. reesei QM 9979, a mutant strain defective in the induction of cellulases by cellulose or sophorose, strongly reduced permease activities were demonstrated. The results stress a hitherto not recognized point of control in the induction of cellulases by T. reesei at the level of uptake of cellulose oligosaccharides.     

Incisional hernia after laparoscopic nephrectomy with intact specimen removal: caveat emptor

The choline-containing phosphoglycolipid, MfGL-II, is the major polar lipid of Mycoplasma fermentans PG18. Anti-MfGL-II antisera raised in rabbits using the purified MfGL-II as an immunogen were employed in immunogold electron microscopic and immunofluorescence studies showing that MfGL-II is uniformly distributed and exposed on the cell surface of M. fermentans cells. The specificity of the antibodies was determined by immunostaining of lipid extracts separated by thin layer chromatography. The antibodies recognize lipids specific to M. fermentans but did not cross-react with lipid extracts of M. penetrans, M. capricolum, M. gallisepticum or Acholeplasma laidlawii. As phosphocholine almost completely abolished antibody interaction with MfGL-II in an ELISA assay it is suggested that the anti-MfGL-II repertoire is composed primarily of anti-phosphocholine antibodies. The anti-MfGL-II antisera inhibit the attachment of M. fermentans to Molt-3 lymphocytes suggesting that MfGL-II plays a major role in M. fermentans-host cell interaction.     

Identification of a gene that causes primary open angle glaucoma

Glaucoma is a major cause of blindness and is characterized by progressive degeneration of the optic nerve and is usually associated with elevated intraocular pressure. Analyses of sequence tagged site (STS) content and haplotype sharing between families affected with chromosome 1q-linked open angle glaucoma (GLC1A) were used to prioritize candidate genes for mutation screening. A gene encoding a trabecular meshwork protein (TIGR) mapped to the narrowest disease interval by STS content and radiation hybrid mapping. Thirteen glaucoma patients were found to have one of three mutations in this gene (3.9 percent of the population studied). One of these mutations was also found in a control individual (0.2 percent). Identification of these mutations will aid in early diagnosis, which is essential for optimal application of existing therapies.     

Classification of the effectiveness of combination treatments

According to FDA regulations, a combination drug is not efficacious unless each component contributes to the claimed effects. For a univariate endpoint, this implies that the combination at specific doses must be superior to each of its components at the same doses. More demanding is the property of synergy, in which the effect of the combination must be superior to the effect expected based on those of its components. If it is equal to those effects, it is additive, and if it is inferior, it is antagonistic. We give regions in the combination dose plane where these concepts are well defined. If the effect of the combination is greater than the greatest effect achievable by any of its components it is therapeutically synergistic. A combination can be antagonistic, yet its components can still contribute to the claimed effects. If it is additive, synergistic or therapeutically synergistic, its components must contribute to the claimed effects. We relate these concepts and provide designs and sequential procedures for determining whether a combination is therapeutically synergistic, synergistic, additive, antagonistic and contributing or antagonistic and non-contributing.     

Dieulafoy lesion as a cause of massive gastrointestinal bleeding

The Dieulafoy lesion, also referred to as exulceratio simplex, caliber-persistent artery anomaly, or cirsoid aneurysm, is a relatively rare, yet possibly fatal cause of gastrointestinal bleeding. Recent journal articles suggest that this pathological entity is not as uncommon as once thought. Advances in endoscopic technique and esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) have greatly assisted in earlier diagnosis and added options to the treatment regimen for this lesion. The relationship of this anomaly to possible exsanguination makes it essential that both medical and surgical endoscopists be knowledgeable of the anatomy, diagnosis, and management of this pathology. Several therapeutic approaches to Dieulafoy's lesion are available and are described.     

DMD-specific FISH probes are diagnostically useful in the detection of female carriers of DMD gene deletions

The challenge of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) carrier identification resides in the ability to identify the presence of a mutant gene over the background contributed by the normal allele. Current diagnosis of carrier status when a deletion has been identified in a proband is based on an analysis of a gene dosage. We present a diagnostic strategy that uses fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to detect female carriers with major deletions in the dystrophin gene. We screened a human X-chromosome-derived genomic library with a full-length dystrophin cDNA and isolated 15 dystrophin-specific cosmids that contain DMD gene exons. Six cosmids were further tested as FISH probes in control individuals and subsequently applied on chromosomes from eight males with DMD and known deletions and on samples from three female carriers. As expected, X chromosomes in normal females displayed four signals, two for the DMD-specific probe and two for the X-chromosome centromeric probe. Hybridization on chromosomal spreads from carriers of deletions revealed only one signal from the DMD-specific probe and two from the control centromeric probe. Males carrying deletions showed no DMD-specific signal for the deleted exons tested. Our data indicate that FISH could represent an alternative method for the detection of female carriers with DMD gene deletions.     

Expression of recombinant antigens in Escherichia coli: application on immunochemical studies of Schistosoma mansoni tegumental antigens

Sm15 and Sm13 are recognized by antibodies from mice protectively vaccinated with tegumental membranes, suggesting a potential role in protective immunity. In order to raise antibodies for immunochemical investigations, the genes for these antigens were expressed in pGEX and pMal vectors so that comparisons could be made among different expression systems and different genes. The fusion proteins corresponding to several parts of the gene for the precursor of Sm15 failed in producing antibodies recognizing the parasite counterpart. On the other hand, antibodies raised against Sm13 MBP-fusion proteins recognized the 13 kDa tegumental protein. Thus the peculiarities of the gene of interest are important and the choice of the expression system must sometimes be decided on an empirical basis.